Red Sea Needlefish
Tylosurus choram
Also known as: Alligator Gar, Crocodile Longtom, Full Beak, Gar, Garfish, Giant Longtom, Hound Needlefish, Houndfish, Longtom, Ocean Piper, Red Sea Houndfish, Ruppell's Alligator Gar, Seagars
- Alligator Gar
- Crocodile Longtom
- Full Beak
- Gar
- Garfish
- Giant Longtom
- Hound Needlefish
- Houndfish
- Longtom
- Ocean Piper
- Red Sea Houndfish
- Ruppell's Alligator Gar
- Seagars
Overview
Found singly or in small schools, near the surface, over sand and reef areas close to shore.
Western Indian Ocean, Eastern Mediterranean - Red Sea to Gulf of Oman
Needlefish hunt smaller fish just below the surface of the sea, but in turn the are also hunted by larger fish like Tuna and can sometimes be seen leaping into the air and seeming to skip along on their tails on the surface of the water to escape predators.
Potentially dangerous at night when attracted to light as they leap out of the water and have been known to cause fatalities with their beaks!
How to identify
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Western Indian Ocean, Mediterranean
- Country only · 3
Found singly or in small schools, near the surface, over sand and reef areas close to shore.
Adult photos 3
Discussion
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Deep dive
More in the family
Needlefishes (Belonidae)





